Recommended links from NAPLIC
Specially designed for assistants working in schools and other settings. More information available at:
AFASIC is the UK charity representing children and young adults with communication impairments, working for their inclusion in society and supporting their parents and carers. Local parents/carers groups can be contacted via the national office.
The Department of Children, Schools and Families offers a number of free publication downloads relating to the Bercow review, including the report itself and an executive summary.
The BCRP (Better Communication Research Programme) is a landmark programme of research part of the Better Communication Action Plan, the government's response to the Bercow Review 2008, was published on December 27th 2012.
There are 6 key areas as identified by TCT:
- Identification; there remain huge challenges at the universal level of identifying SLCN, with continued concerns of how the label should be interpreted with consideration that the label SLCN is too generic when describing more profound language issues.
- Support; children with language needs require support at all levels, in the classroom as well as from specialists. Children have made it clear what works for them- other people's behaviour and understanding being paramount.
- Outcomes; children with SLCN do less well in school than peers of similar ability. Measurable outcomes, need to be at the heart of the system.
- Workforce development; there continues to be an ongoing need to raise the understanding of SLCN, particularly for teachers in changing classroom practice.
- Commissioning; health and education need to work together to deliver needs- led local services. This needs to be developed from universal through to specialist services. Too many children are "falling through gaps in the system".
- Research; needs to combine expertise of practitioners, parents, service providers and researchers to fill the evidence gaps.
Links can be found at:
The Better Communications Research Programme is part of the government's response to the Bercow Review of provision for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, published in July 2008.
The government published its response Better Communication, the speech, language and communications needs (SLCN) action plan in December 2008, which committed to a series of initiatives to improve services for children and young people with SLCN culminating in the National Year of Speech, Language and Communication in 2011.
'Child Language Teaching and Therapy' is published three times a year. It includes articles from a range of professionals reporting on research and teaching/therapy practice for children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties.
NAPLIC members are eligible for a discounted subscription rate.
Hello, the 2011 national year of communication, is a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills.
I CAN is the charity that helps children with speech and language difficulties across the UK. I CAN exists to help these children through their own special schools, nurseries and centres within local schools and by providing training and information for parents, teachers and therapists.
Our therapists are not only happy to provide useful tips, information, and signposting to relevant organisations of support, buy they can also send out some of I CAN’s fantastic resources free of charge if they feel these would be relevant to the child in question. We also run this service over email, so please feel free to send any questions to enquiries@ican.org.uk.
Language for Learning is all about working together to support children with language and communication difficulties in mainstream classrooms and early years settings.
The NAS website includes information about autism and Asperger's Syndrome and about the support and services available in the UK for people with autistic spectrum disorders (autism and Asperger's Syndrome),families, professionals and the media.
NASEN the national association for special educational needs organises courses and events for teachers and other interested professionals.
NASEN Live, 23/24 May 2012 at the Reebok Stadium Bolton
This dedicated event in the North of England is aimed at professionals working in special education. On offer is a comprehensive seminar programme giving delegates the opportunity to listen to authoritative speakers from the field of special educational needs and disability, on a wide range of subjects relating to both policy and practice. NASEN Live also incorporates a free-to-enter two day exhibition with over 60 exhibitors displaying their products and resources.
National Literacy Trust, early language campaign, Talk to Your Baby. Articles on language development, a section on SLDs and downloadable resources.
NICeST (National Information Centre for Speech and Language Therapy) provides a free enquiry service to clinicians and others. It holds an extensive library and can provide literature searches for a small fee.
Consider professional development masters level programme in Speech and Language Difficulties, University of Birmingham, recruiting now for Sept 2012.
To learn more contact Deirdre Martin on 0121 414 4849 or email d.m.martin@bham.ac.uk or contact the School of Education, at the University of Birmingham on 0121 414 4866 or at education@bham.ac.uk
Visit our website Speech and Language Difficulties, Masters programme of study:
RCSLT (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist) is the professional body for speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the UK and Ireland.
The Communication Trust’s exciting new film Sentence Trouble, is a ten minute film which makes a strong case for better communication skills within the youth justice workforce and includes the views of leading experts and practitioners.
With over 60% of young people in the youth justice system having speech, language and communication needs, it is vital that lawyers, secure estate staff, magistrates and the police are able to recognise SLCN and reflect on their own communication skills.
The film calls for young defendants with communication needs to have the right to an intermediary and for mandatory specialist training for lawyers and magistrates.
Speech & Language Therapy in Practice is a UK based quarterly magazine aimed at practising therapists and students. It may also be of interest to related professionals.
Caroline Bowen’s Website for speech sound disorders.
Talking Point is a joint initiative of AFASIC, ICAN and RCSLT that will provide a gateway to all services and information associated with children with speech, language and communication needs.
The purpose of The Communication Trust is to raise awareness of the importance of speech, language and communication across the children's workforce and to enable practitioners to access the best training and expertise to support the communication needs of all children.
